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OATS, TEASE, BEANS.” — Page ^2. 






{ 


ii 


Bonnie Little Bonibel 

AND HER “DAY OFF” 


QV 0tori) 



ILLUSTRATED BY 

MISS A. G. PLYMPTON 



NEW YORK 

E. P. DUTTON AND COMPANY 

31 WEST23D Street — 

1890 




r^7 

'Bd 


C opyright 

E. P. Dutton and Company 
1890 


PRESS OP 

iaocfetocll anU CJjurcijill 


BOSTON 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. How Bonnie was Tempted 11 

II. Outside the Gate 19 

III. A Little Voyage . 29 

IV. Bonnie enjoys a ‘‘Recess” 39 

V. The Fright at Home 53 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

''Oats, pease, beans” Frontispiece 

Outside the Gate 18 

"You won’t let anything bite me?” 23 

"Such a funny pussy” 25 

" Bonnie ! Bonnie ! ” 27 

"Don’t leave me alone, Hewo” 31 


"We is having a good time now, I guess” . . 33 

"Now they’ve gone and leaved us, Hewo” . . 37 


"I is mamma’s little Bonnie girl” 41 

" I can’t find my mamma’s house ” 45 

" Laavs, chile ! you’re powerful hungry, ain’t yer ? ” 49 

Entertaining Bonnie 51 

" So TIRED ” 57 

The Lost is found 61 



“BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 


CHAPTER I. 


now BONNIE WAS TEMPTED. 


ONNIE was sitting on the top step of the 



piazza ; her chubby arms were clasped about 
the neck of a great, noble dog. Bonnie and Hero 
were great friends and constant playmates. When 
you saw one, you were pretty sure to see the 

other ; and where one went, the other was sure to 
follow. It didn’t make any difference to Bonnie 
that Hero was larger and twice as strong as she 

was, — she wasn’t a bit afraid of him, nor did 

she respect him any the more for it. And Hero 

never thought of snubbing or disregarding his little 
mistress because she was only a mite of a thing. 


12 


“BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 


and had only, indeed, lived in this world for five 
summers. 

Ah, no, indeed ! He felt a great responsibility in 
regard to his intimacy with Bonnie, and it was on 
this especial morning that Bonnie’s father had patted 
him on the head, and charged him to take very 
good care of the little girl, while he (papa) had 
to be away on a week’s journey. The carriage 
had only just gone, and Bonnie had been throwing 
kisses after it, until a turn of the road had finally 
hidden the dear father from the violet eyes of the 

little girl he had left behind. 

Mamma had gone with him to the station, and 
then she was going to spend the best part of the 
forenoon with a friend in the village. 

So Bonnie still sat on the top step of the piazza, 
where she had been kissed for good-by, and left 

in charge of her good, old nurse. 

What a beautiful morning it was, to be sure ! 
What a crowd of fleecy clouds in the sky, like 

pretty white ships sailing over a blue sea ! How 
the birds sang in the tree-tops, and how the sun- 


HOW BONNIE WAS TEMPTED. 


13 


beams glittered and shimmered and danced about 
everywhere ! 

Bonnie’s eyes wandered away over the fields be- 
yond the road. There were plenty of daisies and 
buttercups and tall grasses nodding in the breezes 
over there. 

Some of those same little breezes came whisking 
down the road, and over the gate which was the 
boundary line of Bonnie’s playground, and lifted 
her soft flowing hair (that papa and mamma 
called their own especial sunshine, it was so golden- 
bright and pretty), and rustled her dainty white 
little gown, as she sat there so quietly with Hero 
at her side. And all this while the violet eyes 
were fixed on the distant meadows, and there was 
a great deal of thinking and longing going on in 
the little brain and heart of our Bonnie. 

Are you wondering, my young readers, why I 
give my little heroine such a strange name ? 

Her real name is Bonibel Moore, and she had 
been such a mite of a baby that papa used to say, 
sometimes, he wished there had been Moore ” of 


14 BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 

her. Her old Scotch nurse used to call her a 
bonny child/’ over and over again^ with loving 
repetition, until finally the little one adopted the 
adjective, and called herself by the name of Bonnie ; 
and even at five years old she is still Bonnie ” to 
every one around her. 

And now I will go on with my story. 

Hewo,” she said presently, laying her soft pink 
cheek against the dog’s head, and speaking very 
coaxingly, I think it must be b’u’ful over there, 
don’t you ? ” Hero pricked up his ears, and turned 
a wise gaze in the direction of Bonnie’s fat little 
finger. 

Hewo, does you think so ? ” with an impatient 
tug at the big head. 

Hero wagged his tail energetically, and Bonnie’s 
dimples began to grow. She stood up and gave a 
little stretch. is so tired of being here, Hewo,” 

she said next, and it’s so b’u’ful over there ! ” 

Nurse came to the door just then, and seeing the 
little girl and her dog together upon the piazza 
steps, kissed one and patted the other, as she said. 


HOW BONNIE WAS TEMPTED. 


15 


Now be very good, Bonnie girl, because I must 
clear all those closets, and do a deal of cleaning 
before mamma comes home, and you will not give 
nursie any trouble, will you ? And Hero, be sure 
you keep an eye on your little mistress, like the 
brave dog that you are, to be sure.’’ 

Then she hurried upstairs and went to work 
with a will, quite confident that Bonnie would amuse 
herself, as usual, in the garden with her four-footed 
playmate, until the twelve o’clock luncheon. 

But a small and mischievous elf had entered 
Bonnie’s heart. Perhaps it crept in with the sun- 
beams, and, finding congenial spirits there (for our 
little girl is full of pranks and mischief, as all 
healthy little ones should naturally be), concluded to 
stay and help on whatever new enterprise the child’s 
restless brain was concocting. 

And still the breezes whisked about between the 
distant fields and Bonnie’s home; and still the birds 
went flashing and skimming through space, and seemed 
to take delight in showing Bonnie that they were 
not kept within the boundary of a gate and fence, 


16 “ BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 

when there were such beautiful things outside ; and 
more and more grew the longing in Bonnie’s heart 
to wander away herself, and try what fun it would 
be. 

As for Hero, he had also to “ keep an eye ” on 

the hens and chickens, which were intrusive and 

meddlesome. They did not belong in the front gar- 
den, he knew ; and finally, with an angry growl, he 
left Bonnie’s side and dashed at a group of chick- 
ens who were preparing to examine a fine plant 

near by. 

And while he chased them far in the rear of 
the house, little Bonnie’s decision was made. She 
pattered down the path to the big gate. Then 
something like a conscience in her little breast re- 
minded her that she was planning to do something 
she knew mamma dnd papa would not approve. 

But I suppose, as Bonnie was so small, her con- 
science was too little to combat the very strong 
desire that had suddenly sprung up within her. 

At any rate, after one hurried look back towards 
the house, Bonnie tried to lift the latch and slip 


HOW BONNIE WAS TEMPTED. 


17 


out. Alas, it was too high above the little figure ! 
and standing tiptoe didn’t help matters. 

^"Try the side gate,” suggested the naughty elf in 
her heart. And Bonnie obeyed with great readiness. 

Only a short cut to the side gate, which was 

out of view of the house and piazza, on account 
of the bushes ; but as Bonnie lifted the latch and 

passed through, lo ! Hero came bounding along with 

rather an anxious look in his brown eyes. 

What could she be up to now!” he was, no 

doubt, thinking, as he saw his little charge go 

calmly out from her familiar playground, and stand, 
monarch of all she surveyed, in the road where 

she had never been trusted alone, even with so 
wise a guardian as he. 

It would never do at all,” thought Hero ; but 
he felt quite sure that she would not venture 
many steps away from her old crony, himself, so 
he seated himself with a — shall I make a little 
pun, and call it — a dogged resolution ? — not to 

budge from that spot until Bonnie should pass 
through the gate again into safety. 


18 


“ BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 


Ah, but Hero reckoned without his host that 
time ! for after calling and commanding with many 
stamps of her tiny feet, that he should follow her. 



our Bonnie deliberately turned her back to Hero 
and went on. Hero could hardly believe his own 
watchful eyes, but still he felt confident things 
would mend in a moment, and so in dignified 
silence he still remained seated, as you can see in 
the picture. 


CHAPTER II. 


OUTSIDE THE GATE. 

^"j^ ONNIE drew a long breath as she found her- 

self fairly outside the gate. How delightful 
it was ! Ah, me ! it is always so pleasant to do a 
naughty thing at first, — just at firsts when the new- 
ness of the thing is filling a little girl’s mind, and 

she doesn’t want to think of the right or wrong 

of anything. 

Dear little Bonnie ! dear, naughty little Bonnie ! 
There wasn’t a thing, so far as could be seen on 
that lovely summer morning, as dainty and pretty 
and sweet as little Bonnie Runaway. There she 
was ; only a five-year-old maiden, with her plump, 
pretty face all full of dimples, her violet-blue eyes 

all a-shine with the light that was just dancing 
around her, and within her little heart ; her pretty 
white gown blowing in the breezes, which also made 


20 


BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL. 




free with the soft golden and curly hair, all un- 
protected by the broad-brimmed hat Bonnie hated 
to wear ( at this moment that hat was somewhere 
around the garden, filled with stones, and ready 
to be turned into a wagon at its owner’s good 

pleasure). 

The little feet, too, were shod only in the loose 

house-slippers nurse had put on them that morning, 
little dreaming that Bonnie would so suddenly start 
on a pedestrian tour. Alas for those little, tender 

feet ! how tired they would be before very long ! 
But, oh, how happy was our wee girl now ! The 
sense of freedom was so keen, and the spirit of 
independence was so delightfully new ! No nurse 
to imprison her little chubby, restless hands, and 
keep her from straying into mischief. No mamma 
to choose Bonnie’s path for her. Nothing to hin- 
der her own sweet will. She might go where she 
liked, meddle with whatever pleased her, stay out 
as long as she liked, too, and only the sunbeams 

and birdies and breezes for companions, since 

naughty He wo ” refused to come. 


OUTSIDE THE GATE. 


21 


But poor Hero ! When he found that Bonnie had 
actually turned the bend of the road, he threw 
dignity and resolution to the winds, and felt it to 
be clearly his duty to follow after, and keep an 
eye’’ upon her, whether at home or abroad. Maybe, 
after all, the big dog was willing, since fate would 
have it so, to try a change of scene also ; and at 
all events, if Bonnie would go, it was his duty to 
go too. So presently the little girl was delighted 
to find him close beside her again. 

There, I you would come. He wo ! ” she 

cried, kneeling down and hugging him with enthu- 
siasm more affectionate than strictly comfortable to 
the dog. Now I isn’t the leastest bit afraid. Oh, 
we’ll have such a nice time ! ” 

So they trudged on together, Bonnie and Hero, 
over the sunny road, going farther and farther away 
from the safe shelter of the garden gate ; Bonnie 
with no thought of misgivings at all, and Hero 
with only the one thought in his big head, and that, 
to stick to his baby mistress through thick and 
thin. 


22 BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 

And all this while, on the third floor of Bonnie’s 
house, was nurse busily at work, singing away 
merrily over her closets and drawers, and thinking 
— if she found a minute to think at all — how 
nice it was that Bonnie little Bonibel ” kept so 
good and contented at her play with Hero, down 
there in the pleasant and safe garden. 

Louder and louder sang the birdies in the tree- 
tops and from the bushes tliat lined the wayside. 

Merrier and merrier grew little Bonnie as she 
listened, and walked along with her hand on Hero’s 
neck. 

I isn’t afraid,” she said confidently to Hero. 

I isn’t one bit afraid. You won’t let anything 
bite me, will you, nice old Hewo?” turning her 
trusting blue eyes to tlie honest brown ones of the 
dog. He answered her with a wag of his tail. 

Did you ever think that a dog’s tail really talks 
more than his tongue ? In fact, his tongue doesn’t 
speak at all, does it ? for when he harks^ it is liis 
red throat that does the work for him. Hero’s 
tail had a regular language for Bonnie, and she 


OUTSIDE THE GATE. 


-J o 





was always satisfied with what it told her. 
now, having not a grain of 

. I- 

fear for the consequences 
of her nnnsnal perforin- 
ance, the dimples 
came fast and thick 
in her cheeks, and she 
chattered away as 
merrily as the birds 
squirrels 


and the 
along the way. 

Pretty soon they 
came to a large 
tree which 
seemed 
to be 
a sort 
of pic- 
nic place 
for the 


>■ ^ 

^ 

• 


“you won’t u?:t anything hite me?” — Par/e 22. 


s(piirrels and birds, 
such a waving of 


Such a fluttering;; of wino:s ! 

o O 

bushy tails! Perhaps the birds 


24 


BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL. 


u 




resented the use of their tree by the squirrels, and 
maybe the latter were endeavoring to square ac- 
counts with the birds. 

At any rate, there was considerable noise up there 
above Bonnie’s head, and Hero, always of an 

investigating turn of mind, dashed around and 

around the tree frantically, barking and yelping in 
a way that seemed to please Bonnie greatly. 

Oh, such a funny pussy ! See her. He wo ? ” she 
cried excitedly, and Hero, thinking a real puss 

somewhere about, withdrew from the tree and ran 
sniffing along the road, while the pussy ” of Bon- 

nie’s meaning — a fat red chipmunk — gave a prodi- 
gious leap to a bough higher up the tree, and 
was soon hidden from the watching blue eyes below. 
So on and on she went, with Hero at her side, 

pausing now to play with the wild-flowers and 

tangled grasses about her, and again running after 
the butterflies, until both she and her loyal play- 
fellow were far away from home, and on a strange 

path. But all paths were alike to little Bonnie, 
and she had no thought of being tired, not she ! 


OUTSIDE THE GATE 


25 


She was going where the sniibeaiiis went, and oh, 
what fun she was having ! 


And when at last nurse went down to see 
her little charge was about, and missed her 


what 

from 



26 


BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 


the garden, still she did not feel any alarm, for 
cook said she had seen a neighbor’s little girl in 
the road a minute before, and without doubt Bon- 

nie and Hero had gone through the garden fence 
with the little girl to play, as she had often done 

before, with mamma’s permission. 

So nurse stood on the piazza a moment to listen, 
and sure enough there were merry childish voices 
afloat on the still summer air, and now and then 

the bark of a dog ; and with all the anxiety gone 

out of her face, she turned back and went up to 
her unfinished work, saying, You’re right, Maggie, 
the child is in there sure enougli, and I’ll leave 
her a bit longer, till I finish up.” 

Ah me ! if only she had known that the little 
neighbor had other companions, and that the dog 
which barked was not Hero, how soon the smile 
would have left her face, and the song she was 
singing have ceased ! 

And so the small runaway was putting, as fast 
as possible, yet longer distance between herself and 
her home with its safe shelter. 


OUTSIDE THE GATE. 27 


Before the sun had reached “high noon,” home 



came the beautiful young mother, her eyes seeking 
her little one on the instant of her return. 

She stepped into the house ; no sign or sound of 
Bonnie. “Oh, she’s out in the garden, of course,” 


28 


^^BOJSrXIE LITTLE BOXIBEL.” 


thought mamma ; and so she went around to the 
broad path and called Bonnie ! Bonnie ! ’’ 

^^Is it Bonnie you’re wanting, ma’am?” asked 
nurse, putting her white-capped head out of an 

upper window. Sure the child is only in the next 
garden playing, the two of ’em, with Miss Jennie. 

I heard ’em talking but a little while since, she 
and the dog and all of ’em.” 

So mamma smiled, and decided, as nurse had be- 
fore, to let the little girl enjoy herself yet longer. 

But, you see, she did not know, poor mamma, 
that nurse had merely jumped at conclusions, and 
that, without intending to do so, had been sadly 
neglectful of her duty to mischievous Bonnie. 

Taking it for granted that ^Mier baby” — as she 
called Bonnie — was just as safe as nurse supposed 

her to be, the tired mother put on her house-wrap- 

per, and settled down without an anxious thought 
to some house duty ; and still Bonnie was increasing 
the distance between that dear mother, home, and 
herself. 

Ah, naughty Bonnie ! 


CHAPTER III. 


A LITTLE VOYAGE. 

~|^ Y-AND-BY Bonnie and Hero came to a large 
pond. It was right at the end of the roadj 
and the little runaway had become quite tired by this 
time. She was getting a little cross, too, and Hero 
knew it fast enough. He knew something else, too, 
which was troubling his baby mistress. They were 
both lost ! fairly lost ! Bonnie wasn’t much fright- 
ened, though, because she was too young to feel 
that there Avas any danger in the fact of her not 
knowing the way home. She knew somebody would 
tell her the way, when she really loanted to go back. 

But she hadn’t quite finished having a good time 
all alone with Hero, and so she couldn’t, of course, 
go back just yet. And now here Avas this great 
wide water before her. She felt a great deal more 
afraid of that^ than of being lost. 


30 


BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL. 






Suddenly a row-boat appeared from behind a 
clump of trees on an opposite bank, and two little 
boys, with their backs towards Bonnie, were pulling 
across, as fast as possible, to the opposite shore. 

With a whine, and a look into Bonnie’s face. 
Hero plunged into the water and swam after the 

boys. The wise old doggie had decided that it was 
time they — Bonnie and he — had some kind of help 
in their dilemma. 

“ Oh, don’t leave me alone, Hewo ! ” cried Bon- 
nie, gathering up her little gown, and going as 

near the water’s edge as she dared. “ Hewo, I is 
so tired ! ” she called pathetically, as her big, strong 
comrade struck out farther and farther away from 

her. Then she sat down on the grass and began 

to cry. Oh, how the tears rained down ! And as 
she wiped them away with her dirty little hands, 
you can judge what a spectacle her pretty face soon 
grew to be. 

Hero swam on, and finally gave a quick bark, a 
most inconvenient thing to do in deep water. But 
the boys heard it, and turned to see the big, noble 


A LITTLE VOYAGE. 


31 


head in the water close by the boat, and a little 
white figure in a heap on the distant bank. 

Hello ! something’s up/’ said one boy. 

No, something’s down^ I should think,” said the 



Of course it is, sure enough,” replied the first 
boy, whose name was Jack. 

^^We must row back there,” said the other; and 
hurry up, ’cause I hear her hollering like fun.” 

All right, Ned, pull away ! ” and presently the 
little boat grew large and larger as it drew near 
to Bonnie’s part of the shore, and finally grated its 
keel close beside her. 


32 


BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL. 




Bonnie lifted her tear-stained little face up to the 
boys, and smiled through the tears. It was just 
like a rainbow, Jack thought ; thinking also what a 
pretty little girl she was, in spite of the streaks 
of dirt on her face. Ned thought so, too, and was 
ready with the question, — 

What are you doing here ? ” 

Nothing,” was Bonnie’s literally true reply, for 
she had stopped crying then. 

^^Want a boat-ride?” asked Jack. 

Bonnie nodded Yes,” brightly. 

Where do you live, anyway?” continued Jack. 

In my house with papa and mamma,” replied 
Bonnie, getting up on her feet, and looking at the 
boat with eager eyes. 

But where is your home? Over there?” asked 
Ned, pointing across the pond. Bonnie had about 
as much idea of the direction of home as the boys 
had, so she nodded her head in the affirmative ; and 
Jack said to Ned, ^^Poor little mite, I s’pose she’s 
been lost, and has come away round the edge of 
the pond. We’ll carry her across, and she’ll find 


WE IS HAVING A GOOD TIME NOW, I GUESS ! ” — Page 34 


i- tl 













34 


“bonjstie little boxibel.” 


her way, with the dog to guide her, all right. 
Come on.” 

So they lifted Bonnie into the boat, and fixed 
her comfortably in the stern. Hero took his place 

at her side, of course ; and then Jack took the 
middle seat, and Ned pushed off. 

Bonnie’s eyes glistened ; all thought of fatigue 
left her ; the sunshine dried the tears on her 

cheeks, the breeze played with her soft hair, and 

Hero was there “to keep things from hurting her;” 
and she was as happy as though she hadn’t been 
a naughty little runaway. 

“We is having a good time now, I guess!” she 
said to Hero, with a long, contented sort of a sigh 
(if such ought to be called a “ sigh ”), and she 

smiled at Jack till her dimples hashed all over 
her face, and he wanted to kiss her. 

But somehow he dared not kiss a strange little girl 
so soon, and so he contented himself with pulling in 
a water-lily which gleamed white and pure in its 
watery bed beside the boat, and he presented it with 
great politeness to the small passenger in the stern. 


/ 


A LITTLE VOYAGE. 35 

NoWj although Bonnie had been petted all her little 
life, and made very much of by mamma’s friends, 
too, yet she never forgot her manners, — the pretty 
little manners mamma had been so particular about. 
So she thanked Jack in her own lisping way, and 
told him she liked good little boys, and so did 
Hewo ; ” and the boy whispered to Ned, Give us 
a little extra row, Ned, ’cause the girl seems so 
happy, and there’s plenty of time, too.” So the 
boat went gliding on over the water, and the sun- 
beams kept on sparkling and dancing about like 
golden fairies, and Bonnie thought the world was 
a beautiful place for little girls and boys to live in. 

To be sure, just once, and just for fun. Jack 
rocked the boat slyly, and Bonnie clutched the 
boat’s edge with a big scare ” in her soft eyes, 
and whispered anxiously to Hero, who seemed alvrays 
to be her great source of comfort in danger, It 
feels funny, Hewo, but I isn’t afraid ; you won’t 
let anything hurt me ! ” 

Hero rolled his eyes around towards Jack, as if 
to say, Careful, my boy, no tricks with my mis- 


36 


BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 


tress, if you know what is good for you'' And 

Jack perhaps understood, for he stopped his mis- 
chief, and reassured Bonnie to such an extent that 
nothing would do but that she must try the fun 
herself ; and such a rocking as the boat got then 
was too much for Hero. He gave a low growl, 
and put an end to the sport in short order. 

Say, Jack,’’ whispered Ned, / don’t want that 
old dog in my boat ; I’m afraid of him, he’s so 
big, and — and that growl of his was awfully cross. 
I say, let’s put ’em ashore there by ^ school-house 

landing,’ and I guess she’ll get along all right.” 

So presently the boat glided in beside a sort of 
high board step, or landing, which led up to a 
bank, not far from which was the school-house. 

Here the boys lifted Bonnie out, and Hero was 
glad enough to follow his mistress on to dry land. 

^^Now you can find your way home, little girl,” 
they called, as the boat shot off again; and Bonnie, 
clambering to the top step of the landing, sat 
down to watch them off, with a lonely sort of 
feeling in her little heart. 


A LITTLE VOYAGE 


37 


Now they’ve gone and leaved ns. He wo ! ” she 
said pathetically ; and Hero wagged his tail, half 



“now they’ve gone and leaved us, hewo!” 


for sympathy with her mournful state of mind, and 
half for joy that he was safely off the water again. 


« 


38 BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.’’ 

Well, they sat there together a few moments, and 
poor little Bonnie was beginning to feel, oh, so 
tired ! But she climbed on to the bank, and 
trudged along; and if the little feet were beginning 
to drag somewhat, and the dimples were disappear- 
ing one by one, the young heart was still full of 
courage, and Bonnie didn’t forget that she was 
having a wonderful holiday, — she and Hero, all by 
their own two selves, and it was being such fun ! 


/ 


CHAPTER IV. 


BOXNIE e]s:joys a recess.” 


RETTY soon children’s voices were heard, and 



Bonnie came right into the midst of some little 
people who were having a recess from study just then. 

When they saw wee Bonnie, followed by stately 
old Hero, they stopped their play and stared at 
the two new-comers in surprise. 

Why, little girl, where did you come from ? ” 
asked the largest girl of the group, kneeling before 
our little runaway. What’s your name?” 

is mamma’s little Bonnie girl,” was the 
answer, given only after the question had been 
repeated, for Bonnie was shy of strangers, and 
there were so many of them around her. 

But there stood Hero, close beside her, and so 
she gained courage, and told the children that she 
and Hero were taking a ^^b’u’ful walk,” and when 


40 “ BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 

they got home they were going to tell mamma all 
about it. A.nd while she stood, the centre of the 
interested group, out came the pretty, young school- 
teacher, who patted Bonnie’s head, and talked so 
nicely to her, that the little one began to wonder 
if this wasn’t the very nicest part of her nice day. 
Then some of the children scampered off to their 
various games, and the teacher asked Bonnie if she 
wanted to play any game. “Are you too little yet 
for such things?” she asked, kissing the midget, 
and thinking meanwhile that the little one’s mother 
must be rather careless to allow her baby to go 
so far from home alone (though, of course, she did 
not dream hoto far Bonnie’s restless feet had strayed 
from her home, and only supposed, as did the children 
who had questioned the child, that her home was 
down the road a short distance). 

Bonnie tossed the sunny hair from her forehead, 
and proudly replied : — 

“I can play ‘wing-a-woun-a-wosy,’ and horsey, when 
Jennie puts a stwing on me, and mud pies. Hewo 
plays, too.” 


IS mamma’s little liONNiE GIRL.” — Page 89 . 





42 


BONXIE LITTLE BOXIBEL.” 


^^Can you play ^ oats, pease, beans’?” asked a 
little girl ; but Bonnie had never lieard of it. 

So a few of the children, and the teacher, too, 
joined hands, and, putting Bonnie in the centre of 
the ring, showed her hoAv it was played, — the game 
that most little folks like so well. Oh, it was all 
very enjoyable to Bonnie Runaway,” and she had 
a grand, good time choosing a j)artner, and singing 
out as loudly as any of them. Hero helped in the 
fun, and skipped about and barked and wagged his 
tail in great delight. 

But all too soon the bell for recess over ” rang 
out to call the scattered girls and boys, and they 
all kissed Bonnie for good-by, and patted the big 
doggie’s head, as they filed into the school-house, 
and left Bonnie and Hero again to themselves. 

Now you’re sure you will go straight home, 
dearie ? ” the teacher asked, as she turned for one 
more good-by to golden-haired Bonnie, before follow- 
ing her pupils. 

Bonnie gave a tired little sigh, but she was very 
courageous, and replied, I guess Hewo and I is 


bon:n^ie exjoys a 


RECESS. 


43 


cc 


1 J 


soon going to be home.” And even as the teacher 
watched her with a lingering feeling that something 
was wrong, and perhaps she ought to inquire more 
23articnlarly into the matter, the little one and her 
fonr-footed companion were rnnning side by side 
down the road away from the school-house. 

Somehow by this time the sunbeams were ceasing 
to seem as delightful to Bonnie as earlier in the 
day, and the singing of the birds wasn’t as en- 
tertaining either. There were plenty of flowers still 
along her way, and the happy, loving idea came to 
her to gather some for dear mamma. Maybe 
Bonnie felt enough subdued by ‘ this time to give 
her small conscience a fair chance, and perhaps, 
as she knew she had been naughty in running 
away from home and nurse, she fancied the love- 
gift of her pretty flowers would also be a nice peace- 
offering, too. Children even as young as Bonnie can 
reason, and plot, and plan well enough to suit their 
small circumstances, if tliey want to, and that is 
why mammas have to be very wise and faithfid in 
their care of their little, even very little, sons and 


44 


BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 


daughters, in order that the clever-thinking and 
wondering little brains may be guided aright in 
their i^owevs. 

Bonnie was only five years old, but she knew in 
her heart that she had done wrong ; and as the 
little feet began to be less sprightly, and the sunny, 
curly head hot and tired beneath the steady shine 
of the sunbeams wdiich had been so tempting to 
her that morning, she grew serious, and every dim- 
ple was hidden away from the sweet little face. 

I is going to take mamma some b’u’ful little 
f’owers, Hewo,” she said, pulling the pretty Avild 
things groAving about her, and clasping her Avann 
plump fingers around them tightly enough to squeeze 
the plant life out of them inside of a minute. 

Maybe she won’t scold you, Hcavo, for making me 
wun away, if she knows I love her ’nough to bring 
fowers to her, Avill she, HeAvo?” 

Hero looked up into tlie anxious little face and 
troubled blue eyes, and wagged his tail ; but he had, 
I must honestly confess, a very doAvncast expression 
on his face. 


45 




BONXIE EXJOYS A RECESS.” 


we ’most lioine^ Hewo?” was the next ques- 
tion, and there Avas a suspicion of tears in the 
weary little voice. 



“i can’t find my mamma’s house.” — Page 46. 


Presently a high hoard fence appeared at the 
side of the road, and the wooden gate was swung 
back. Two A'ery black little maids were playing 
there as Bonnie came along. 

Ki yi!” cried one of them, grinning from ear to 


ear at Bonnie. 


46 


BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 


For de laws sake ! ” ejaculated the other, popping 
her woolly noddle over the fence. 

Now Bonnie didn’t know what ki yi ! ” meant, 
nor did she understand what the last sentence was 
intended to convey ; but there was a kind expression 
in the two black pairs of eyes now gazing at her, 
and so she wasn’t afraid, — oh, no, not when Hero 
was close beside her ! 

Holding the hand which carried the cherished 
peace-offerings ” snugly behind her, lest the big 
girls should snatch them away, Bonnie answered 
their questions with the weary information, I can’t 
find my mamma’s house ! ” 

Laws ! idIio s yer mammy ? ” questioned Beatrice 
Victoria with another grin. 

I hasn’t got any ^ mammy,’ ” answered Bonnie, to 
whom the not very pretty substitute for mamma ” 
was quite unknown. 

Oh, ki yi, yi ! ” roared the other damsel, who 
rejoiced in the name of Seraphima. ^ Mammy ’ 
means ^ ma.’ Who’s yer ma, little gal?” 

Bonnie drew nearer to Hero. She didn’t like the 


BONNIE ENJOYS A RECESS.” 


47 


loud laugh, nor the appearance of making fun of 
her,” and she wished she hadn’t run away from 
her dear home, which now seemed so far away 
to the little stranger amongst strangers. 

My mamma is a ivliite lady,” she answered, — 
a very pretty white lady ; is your mamma ? ” 

That was too much for the funny part of Vic- 
toria’s and Seraphima’s natures, and they rolled 
over and over with laughter, while Bonnie’s blue 
eyes opened wider and wider, and Hero gave a 
warning bark. 

The two girls picked themselves up, and sobering 
down somewhat held out their hands to Bonnie. 

Come, little gal, an’ see our mammy, an’ she’ll 
rest you nice and kind, an’ then maybe we kin 
find yer white ma fer yer.” 

So Bonnie went with them, followed by the 
watchful Hero, and a good-natured colored woman, 
with her head bound up in a turban, met them at 
the door of her little cottage. 

To her Victoria and Seraphima related Bonnie’s 
tale, — all they knew of it, at least, which was that 


48 


BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 


she couldn’t find her mamma’s house ; ” and the 
woman beamed kindly on the little tired girl. 

Poor little honey ! yer been takin’ a mighty 
long walk, I jus’ reckon, by the looks of yer. 
Which way is yer mammy’s house, I wonder now?” 

Where the trees is big and green, and there’s 
a big high gate,” replied Bonnie; ^^and Hewo and 
I, we took a walk all by our two selves, and it 
was nice, oh ! very nice, out in the sun and grass.” 

Sho’ ! the gal ain’t lost, chillen,” said the 
woman, she lives down the road a piece in the big 
house there, and she kin go right there ’thout any 
trouble. Ketch this here dog a-missin’ his Avay! Let 
her rest a bit, an’ then you kin start her safely on.” 

She turned to Bonnie again. 

Hungry, chile ? ” she asked, and Bonnie nodded 
Yes.” 

‘^^All right, mammy’ll feed yer;” and in a trice 
a bowl of nice bread and milk was prepared for 
the little wanderer. 

Hewo’s hung’y, too,” said Bonnie, too loyal to 
her dog to forget his wants with hers. 


49 


BONKIE ENJOYS A KECESS/’ 


Laws ! hear that ! well, here’s a bit for him/’ 
and a piece of meat was thrown to the wistful 
eyed-dog. 



“laws, chile! you’re powerful hungry, ain’t yer? ” 


Laws, chile ! you’re powerful hungry, ain’t yer ? ” 
was the next remark, as Bonnie ate all the bowl 
contained, the kind-hearted woman feeding her as 
if she had been too little to use her own chubby 
hands. 

There, now, you Victoria Beatrice, an’ you good- 


60 


LITTLE BOXIBEL.” 


for-notliin’ Seraphima, you call that no ’count George 
Washin’ton, an’ get him ter ’muse the chile a bit. 
’Tain’t often we has a white visitor eat a meal 
with us, yer know; maybe her mammy’ll ’member it 
ef we kin be perlite to her chile a bit.” 

Bonnie, very much refreshed, and by this time 
quite well acquainted with her dusky surroundings, 
seemed in no hurry to leave, and so down she 
sat on the doorway step — Hero gravely seated 
close by| — and was introduced j)resently to George 
W ashington, who had been called in from hoeing 
jDotatoes, and was no way averse to change of 
occupation. 

Bonnie seemed a little j)rincess, seated there in 
the midst of a loyal group of attendants. Victoria 
took her banjo and strummed away at a break- 
down for George Washington, who executed a won- 
derful jig; while Mammy,” standing in the doorway, 
beat time loudly with her ponderous foot, and Sera- 
phima took the opportunity to sit beside the little 
white visitor ” and lay her hand on the soft 

white gown. 


51 


BONNIE ENJOYS A “ KECESS.” 

“ Tum-te-ta-tum ” went the banjo, and the dancer 
hopped and kicked high and higher, as Bonnie 


ENTERTAINING BONNIE. 

laughed and shouted, and Hero joined in, so far as 
he could, with his big mouth and red tongue. 



62 BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.’’ 

And when the fim was all over, Bonnie felt so 
freshened up that the tired look went out of her 
face and eyes, and she began to think that she 
and Hero must have yet a little more nice time 
together before going home. 

Therefore when Victoria and the Seraph proposed 
to go home with her, she shook her head with a 
frown, and declared that she wanted to take a 
walk again with Hero, and would not go home. 

^^Well, yer won’t go far, honey,” advised the 
woman, ^^kase yer know yer ma’ll be gittin’ anxious;” 
and Bonnie promised to be very careful and not go 
too far from the house with the /^big gate,” where 
Dinah had no doubt the child really belonged. 


/ 


/ 


CHAPTER V. 

THE FRIGHT AT HOME. 

~|^^ 0 you suppose that in all this time the little 
runaway’s disappearance had not been finally 
discovered by nurse and mamma ? Indeed, the dis- 
covery had been made when Bonnie’s luncheon hour 
had arrived, just about the time, in fact, when the 
school recess was in full swing. 

Nurse had laid down her broom, to rest her arms 
after vigorous sweeping ; mamma had hung up the 
last garment in the thoroughly renovated closets ; and 
the old hall-clock chimed the hour of twelve. 

Deary me ! twelve o’clock, and that dear wee 
lamb will be hungry as a bear!” cried nurse; and 
mamma, startled at the hour, — for who ever dreams 
of the hurry of minutes and hours when very busy 
work is going on? — echoed the cry. 

How good and quiet she has been all the morn- 


54 BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.’' 

ing, to be sure ! But it is time our neighbors were 
free from her chatty little tongue over there, and 
you had better run and get her home, nurse, and 
have her washed and ready for luncheon.” 

Ah, me ! did ever a little girl need washing and 
tidying more than mamma’s little Bonnie girl ” at 
that time, although she was the centre of attraction 
at the school recess across the pond ? But little did 
nurse or mamma dream of that fact. How could 
they know that there was a dear, wee lost lamb ” 
straying yet farther away from the fold, where 
mother’s arms were beginning to feel empty ? No- 
where in the home garden could Bonibel be found, 
and so nurse hurried through the gap in the hedge 
which divided off the neighbor’s garden. To her great 
surprise little Jennie knew nothing of Bonnie; hadn’t 
seen her all the morning. 

Surely I heard you children laughing, and the dog 
barking, with my own two ears ! ” said frightened 
nurse. 

No ; my little cousins came, and brought their big 
Newfoundland with them, and we had real fun ; but 


THE FKIGHT AT HOME. 


55 


I called Bonnie and she didn’t answer me, and so 
we didn’t have her here,” was Jennie’s reply. 

And back ran nurse to give the alarm, for now, 
of a truth, Bonnie was lost, and there must be no 
delay in the search for her. 

Oh, what trouble and anxiety followed ! Mamma 
thought of tramps and wild cows, deep streams, and 
of everything else that was dreadful for her little 
lovely baby to come across. 

Nurse reminded her that the dog was gone, too, 
and he would take care of the child. But that was 
small comfort to the mother, who wanted her lost 
lamb in her own tender arms again. 

And so cook went down the road, nurse went np 
the road, and mamma ran across the fields. But the 
sunbeams told no tales, the breezes were silent also, 
and seemed to have suddenly gone to sleep. Not a 
word sang the birds about their share in the matter ; 
and as the daisies and buttercups had gone with 
Bonnie, they, of course, were unable to tell any tales 
of the morning’s work. 

So the search was useless, and the three worried 


56 LITTLE BOXIBEL/’ 

ones met again at tlie gate, and consulted wliat was 
best to be done. 

Tlie neighboring mother and her little girl were sym- 
pathetic, and joined in the search for Bonnie ; but as 
none of them went in just the right direction, of course 
the missing lamb was not as near as each had hoped. 

And while they are searching in all directions save 
the right one, we will go back to Bonnie. 

After leaving the cottage where she had been 
rested and refreshed, outwardly and inwardly, Bonnie 
and Hero trotted complacently up the road, ready 
for more of a good time,” and finally found them- 
selves far from any house or anybody save their 
OAvn two runaway selves. The dog had evidently had 
all the good time he wanted, and Bonnie had grown 
very tired and sleepy again ; and more than that, — 
she wanted to cry, and did cry ! Cried till her 
blue eyes were like two blue seas, and the tears 
made zigzag tracks over her dirty little face. 

He wo, I does want my mamma ! ” she whined, 
and the dog was too dejected even to wag a sym- 
pathetic tail. 


THE FRIGHT AT HOME. 


57 


The Avilted “peace-offerings” Avere long since lost, 
and Bonnie felt her condition to be very miserable 
indeed. Such Aveary, aching little feet ! Such tired, 



“ SO tired! ” — Page 58 . 


lazy-feeling little legs ! Such hot, sticky hands ! 
Such a quivering little mouth and chin ! Such a 
tangled mass of golden hair! Oh, Bonnie Avas sadly 
in need of being found, and made SAveet and clean 
for the nice little lunch prepared for her! 


58 


BONNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.” 


At last she sank down on a patch of soft grass, 
and Hero squatted beside her, with his tongue hang- 
ing from his mouth, and his mournful-looking tail 
utterly without the j)ower to wag. 

is so tired!’’ she said pitifully, — so tired. 
He wo 1 Where is mamma’s house now ? ” 

Dear little Bonnie ! She had, without knowing it, 
travelled around the border of the pond she had 
crossed in the morning, and was now not so far 
from ^Anamma’s house ” as she had been during the 
early part of her wanderings. 

She tumbled comfortably back on the turf, and 
watched the white clouds overhead for a few moments, 
and then she seemed to be lifted on one of them, 
and — oh ! it was sailing — sailing — sail-ing — sail — 

and lo ! Bonnie had fairly sailed away into 

the land of sleep, while Hero was trying hard to 
enjoy a nap, too, as well as he could, while keeping 
one wary eye open all the time. So tired! Dear 
little Bonnie ! 

Had there been a tramp,” as mamma was fear- 
ing all this while, one glance at Hero’s strong, big 


THE FKIGHT AT HOME. 


59 


paw, laid so j)i’c>tectingly on the little sleeper’s dress, 
to say nothing of the strong, big animal himself, 
would have been quite enough to change the tramp’s 
direction ; and Bonnie was perfectly safe from harm, 
out there under the blue, tender sky, and on her 
bed of soft turf. 

But as she slumbered so jDeacefully, the poor, 
half-distracted mamma and nurse were straining 
their eyes in all directions, and calling Bonnie ! 
Bon-nie ! ” till they were hoarse ; and at last nurse 
had to lead the mother home and comfort her, and 
wipe away the tears which were constantly falling 
from the sweet mother-eyes, for a great faintness 
had come upon her (mamma), and she could no 
longer help search for the little strayed lamb. 

Oh, dear ! ” wailed Jennie, Bonnie’s daily play- 
mate, shall I never see Bonnie little Bonibel Moore 
again ? If I only had a big man’s voice, how I 
would scream and call her till she’d have to listen 
and hear me ! I’d call this way ! ” She climbed 
upon a stone wall, and opening her rosy mouth gave 
a shrill childish yell that certainly was piercing 


60 BOKNIE LITTLE BONIBEL.’’ 

enough to have reached London or Paris. But though 
it failed to reach the slumber-land where just then 
Bonnie was sojourning, yet happily it did reach the 
one wide-awake ear that was keeping Hero’s wide- 
open eye company, and was a familiar sound that 
he had not heard all day. With a joyous and 
answering bark he was up and on his four paws 
in a moment, awakening Bonnie rather roughly, to 
be sure, but effectually. 

As soon as he saw her standing up, he started, 
still barking, down the road, and Bonnie, in terri- 
ble dread of being left alone, followed, with the piti- 
ful cry, Don’t leave me, Hewo, I is all alone ! ” 

But Hero kept right on, after turning his head 
and making sure that his wee mistress was follow- 
ing. He * knew where he was now, and he had 
recognized Jennie’s ‘^^yell” gladly enough, poor old 
doggie. He knew succor and safety were close at 
hand at last, and he and Bonnie would want no 
more such long walks and tiresome good times ” 
for a long, long time to come. 

And so — oh, yes, you will all be sure to guess 



THE 


LOST IS FOUND. — Page 63 





62 


LITTLE BONIBEL.” 


rightly what happened, even before my story is at 
its close — the runaways drew near and nearer 
home, until finally Bonnie saw the welcome gate, — 
the little gate which had opened all too easily, and 

let her out beyond the dear home’s shelter that 

bright, beautiful morning ! 

Oh, how the blue eyes glistened ! and a few 
little dimples which always followed a smile on 
Bonnie’s face gathered in the plump, dusty, tear- 
stained cheeks. Only a feio dimples, because the 

rest were too tired to show themselves, and it was 
necessary for Bonnie to be sparkling and laughing 
and beaming all over before one could catch a 
glimpse of all the j)retty dimples she really pos- 
sessed. 

Only mamma, no one else (for the others were 

still searching, you know, in the wrong direction), 
stood at the piazza door as our two repentant, 
foot-sore, tired, and altogether used-up ” little 
wanderers came side by side up the path. 

Mamma ! mam-ma ! ” screamed Bonnie presently ; 
and Bonnie, my own little Bonnie ! ” screamed 


THE FKIGHT AT HOME. 


63 


mamma in return, as she caught her baby girl ” 
in her outstretched arms, and fell on her knees to 
clasp the little form yet closer. 

And so the lost was found ! the strayed lamb 
came wearily home to the fold ; the runaway’s little 
tongue and heart unburdened themselves on mother’s 
breast, and beneath the loving influences of mother’s 
kisses and tender speech. 

There was great rejoicing, you may be sure, 
when the others returned, and found that the trouble 
and sorrow were gone at last, for Bonnie was safe 
in mamma’s arms, and Hero had lain down to put 
his nose between his paws and slumber in peace, 
glad to be off duty ” for a little while at least. 

Now my story is flnished, and somewhere in the 
land of dear, restless little children I am sure 
you will one day come across my Bonnie little 
Bonibel.” 










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